'Green' bus tour plans stops across South Dakota

July 18, 2008

The Homegrown Prosperity Tour, sponsored by Dakota Rural Action and the Western Organization of Resource Councils, is coming to South Dakota. The tour features a “green” bus Ð both in color, and the fact that it runs on 100 percent biodiesel Ð that will start its weeklong tour July 19, stopping in Brookings, Lake Preston, Faulkton, Union Center and Rapid City. The bus is equipped with solar panels that power a laptop computer and TV, and features a solar oven and other displays. The outreach tour offers solutions to reduce greenhouse gases and increase energy efficiency in homes and businesses. The tour also highlights clean, renewable energy, small-scale cooperative biodiesel production, local foods production, distribution and consumption, and well-paying jobs for rural communities. “Our use of oil, gas and coal is changing the climate, leading to drought, wildfires, and other problems for people around the world,” said Jeanne Charter, WORC board member from Shepherd, Mont. “Our energy supplies are less reliable and more costly every day. Energy efficiency and homegrown, clean, renewable energy can reduce the pollution causing climate change, while creating hundreds of thousands of good jobs and protecting our land, air, and water. ” A four-person green bus crew will visit 40 towns in Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Idaho, and Oregon. The public is invited to join the bus tour and meet the crew on the following dates and locations. All events are free and open to the public.

July 19 in Brookings, 10 a.m.-noon at the Brookings Farmers Market and 6 p.m. until sundown at Brookings Pioneer Park

July 20 in Lake Preston, 1-4 p.m. at the Kingsbury Klassic Kruisers Car Show

July 21 in Faulkton, 1-4 p.m. at the City Park, serving SDSU ice cream

July 26 in Rapid City, 9:30 a.m.-noon at the Rapid City Farmers Market For information, contact Silvia Christen or Braden Hoefert of Dakota Rural Action at 605-697-5204 or e-mail silviac@dakotarural.org.